Collapsible book rack



July 2, 1963 A, R, PERlNl 3,095,974

COLLAPSIBLE BOOK RACK Filed Oct. 27. 1961 Anthony Perini INVENTOR.

United States Patent 3,095,974 CQLLAPSIBLE BODK RACK Anthony R. Perini, 6 Wall St., New Bedford, Mass. Filed Get. 27, 1961, Ser. No. 159,473 4 Claims. (Cl. 211-42) The present invention relates to a simple, practical and economical openwork rack which is expressly constructed and designed to serve as a rack for books, magazines, newspapers and the like, Kand has reference to a construction which may rest upon the floor or, `alternatively, other support or may be elevated and hung from a wall or an equivalent vertical support surface.

More specically the invention `in a preferred embodiment thereof is characterized, generally speaking, by a horizontally elongated crib-like rack embodying a pair of X-shaped leg-frames, a plurality of spaced parallel horizontally disposed rods having their ends connected to the leg-frames. With the leg-frames vertical and the rods horizontal `and therefore at right angles to the leg frames, a V-shaped crib-like rack is provided.

A rack having these general ycharacteristics but used as lan album holder is disclosed in la patent identified as U.S. Patent 2,331,239 granted to L. L. Schock et al., October 5, 1943.

The invention also has to do with the construction stated and wherein a pair of top rods or rod members serve not only in connecting the leg frames together but also function to accommodate -a pair of slides. These slides are alike in construction `and are adjustable along said rod toward Vand from each other and function in selectively usable positions to assist one in bunohing or stacking the books and then clamping the same in systematic but readily accessible positions.V In this respect the slides function in a manner similar to book ends `as disclosed in the generally similar construction identified as the Hackworth et al. book rack in U.S. Patent 2,134,606 of October 25, 1938.

An obvious objective in the instant matter is to structurally, functionally and otherwise improve upon lthe above identified patents and any similarly constructed `and performing prior art racks. To this end, simple and practical bar or strip members are `apertured and slidably mounted and `function as the `aforementioned book grouping and clamping slides.

Novelty is also predicated on having the uppermost rod members mounted so that the end portions project outwardly beyond their respectively adjacent leg frames,

whereby to provide a practical construction capable of being hung and suspended from hooks or the like.

Then, too, these elongated horizontal rod members have their respective outer ends permanently `connected with the cooperating intended upper ends of the legs of the respective leg frames and it is on these rod members that the two slides 'are slidingly mounted. Conversely, the stated upper rod members are hingedly connected with the respective outer ends of the slides with the result that -the slides have the additional function of linking the left and right sections of the rack together in such a way that these sections are capable of being disconnected from each other and spread flatwise in a plane coplanar with each `other and with said slide for ready handling and transportation.

Other objects, features a-nd yadvantages Will become more readily apparent fro-m the `following description Iand the accompanying sheet of illustrative, Ibut not restrictive, drawings. i.

In the accompanying drawing wherein like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the views.

FIGURE l is an elevational View of a book rack constructed in accordance with the principles o-f the inven- "ice 2 tion and showing, in phantom lines, the lmanner in which books are grouped land racked systematically ltherem.

FIGURE 2 isa foreshortened top plan view of the same.

FIGURE 3 is a section on :the vertical line 3-3 of FIG- URE 1 looking in the direction ofthe arrows.

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged detail section and elevation on the line 4-4 of FIGURE 3. u

FIGURE 5 is `an enlarged fragmentary view 1n section yand elevation on the line 5 5 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 6 is `a fragmentary perspective view showing how a projecting end portion of one of the rods serves as a suspension member.

Referring now to the drawings it will be seen that there are two vertical spaced parallel end members which are here referred to as leg frames 8 and 10, respectively. Each frame is generally X-shaped in end elevation and made up of a pair of complemental legs 12, the central portions lof which are notched and fitted together as at 14 in FIGURE 6. Also and as perhaps best shown in FIGURE 4 these notched Icross portions are separably joined by a bolt 16 held in place by Ian accessible wing nut 18. Disposed horizontally `and at rightangles to the leg frames 8 and 10 `are rack forming rods which are ordinarily in `the form lof elongated wooden rounds for ydowels. The spaced parallel coplanar lower pair `of rods 20 are shown in section FIGURE 3. The ends thereof are fitted into suitable holes provided therefor in the respective legs of crossed portions yof the legs. The intermediate rods 22 (both at the left and right in FIGURE 3) have their ends likewise tted into holes provided therefor in the legs and are glued or otherwise held in place. The uppermost rods 24 are circular in cross-section and serve primarily as mounts for the pair yof spaced parallel strip or bar members which are here referred to as `slides 26. The end portions (FIGURE 5) of the slides have circular holes therein as at 28 and the holes are slightly larger than the cross section of the cooperating rods 24. Metal clips 30 are positioned in intended half-.portions of the holes 28 and suitably embedded in the slides 26 and have arcuately bent portions 32 which are springy and slightly under tension and serve 'as friction shoes. These friction shoes serve to engage the rods 24 and consequently it is possible for one to shift or niove the slides closer together or farther apart from the outward full line positions as shown in FIGURES 1 to 3. In other words, one may adjust the slides to the dotted line positions sho-wn in FIGURES 1 and 2 Where they serve to bunch la group of books and in fact may be pressed suiiciently tight against [the books to clamp the books against falling or displacement.

'I'he respective outer end portions of the rods 24 are extended beyond the holes 34 provided in the legs, as seen in FIGURE 6. These extending end portions 36 project sufciently far that they serve as convenient suspensio-n terminals and hence may be supported by way of hanger hooks 38 mounted in the wall or other Vertical surface 40. This makes it possible to conveniently suspend the rack on the wall. For the most part the rack will rest on the oor or other horizontal support surface as shown in FIG. 1.

It will bemobvious that by unfastening the crossed notched portions of the overlapping legs of the respective leg frames 8 and 10, the over-all rack may be collapsed. This procedure simply requires removing the bolts 16 by first detacbing the thumb nuts l8r. Then, the notched portions of the legs can be separated sand the leg frames can be swung out in a plane common with the slides 26 or, the parts may be folded or collapsed in any handy or convenient manner (not shown) for shipping and storing. Accordingly, it will be evident that the structure, construed as a ready-to-use unit, resembles an openwork crib-like rack and that the rods 20 are .close toget-her and provide a sturdy bottom as is eviden-t from FIG. 3. Also, the shiftable strip members 26 serve not only as slides forV variable book assembling and' clamping needs, they also function as the means which links the two frames or sections (one inclined Vright `to left and the 4other inclined left to right in FIG. 3) to each other. Stated otherwise, Athese `frames are hinged on and linked together by the slides 26.

l The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modilications and changes will readily occur to `those, skilled -in the art,y it is not desired to limit the invention V to exact construction and operation shown and described, n

and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed;

What is claimed vas newis as follows:

1. A portable book rack comprising a pair of vertical spaced parallel X-shaped leg frames, each leg frame comprising a pair Vol crossed interlocked separably fastened legs, a first pair of relatively low horizontal parallel contiguous rod members having their respective outer ends connected to the respective legs of the crossed por-` tions of the respective leg frames, a second pair of upper horizontal rod members having ltheir end portions con- Anected to the upper ends of their respective legs of the respective leg frames and projecting outwardly beyond said legs, a plurality of intermediate rod members arranged in planes between the upper rod members and lower -rod members and connected at their ends to their respective legs of the respective leg frames and providing a crib-like book rack, and a pairV of bar members disposed at right angles to and yhaving apertured end portions frictionally slidaole along said upper rod members.

2. A book Vrack comprising an openwork crib normally open at its top and a pair of vertical spaced paral lel X-shaped leg :frames each the same in construction and embodying a pair of companion legs having their respective median portions crossing eachother and separably fastened together in a manner delning said X- shaped leg frames, a rirst pair of relatively low elongated Yrod members disposed in close-spaced parallelism, 1o-

cated adjacent -to and just above the plane of the crossing portions of the legs of the respective pairs and having outer ends permanently connected to their respective legs at the ends of said crib, a second pair of similar horizontal elongated rod mem-bers disposed in a plane above the plane of the iirst-named rod members and having outer end portions thereof permanently connected with their respective upper end portions of the legs of the aforementioned pairs .of legs, and a pair of bar members disposed at right angles to and having apertured end portions manually slidable and shiftable along said upper rod members, said bar members providing book assembling and clamping slides, and also serving to hingedly lin'k and connect said rod members to each other in spaced apart parallel relationship.

3. The structure according to claim 2 and wherein peripheral portions of the apertures provided in said bar members are partially lined with 4resilient friction springs, said spings having friction contact with cooperating surfaces of said second-named -rod members whereby to permit the bar members to be individually or conjointly adjusted toward and from each other or toward and from the respective vertical leg :frames and frictionally heldA in adjusted position.

4. The structure according to claim 2 and wherein the respective outer end portions of said second-named rod members project outwardly and beyond the adjacent outer surfaces of the respective cooperating legs, said projecting end portions being adapted to accommodate and be engaged with suspension hooks or the like on a stationary vertical wail whereby said rack is thus suspended for use from said vertical-wall.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED sTATEs PATENTS 524,658 Washburn Aug. 14, 18'94 934,148 Duif Sept. 14, 1909 2,134,606 Haokworth Oct. 25, 1938 2,331,239 Schock Oct. 5, 1943 2,583,306 Royer Jan. 22, 1952 FORElGN PATENTS Y 281,921 Great Britain s of 1927 

1. A PORTABLE BOOK RACK COMPRISING A PAIR OF VERTICAL SPACED PARALLEL X-SHAPED LEG FRAMES, EACH LEG FRAME COMPRISING A PAIR OF CROSSED INTERLOCKED SEPARABLY FASTENED LEG, A FIRST PAIR OF RELATIVELY LOW HORIZONTAL PARALLEL CONTIGUOUS ROD MEMBERS HAVING THEIR RESPECTIVE OUTER ENDS CONNECTED TO THE RESPECTIVE LEGS OF THE CROSSED PORTIONS OF THE RESPECTIVE LEG FRAMES, A SECOND PAIR OF UPPER HORIZONTAL ROD MEMBERS HAVING THEIR END PORTIONS CONNECTED TO THE UPPER ENDS OF THEIR RESPECTIVE LEGS OF THE RESPECTIVE LEG FRAMES AND PROJECTING OUTWARDLY BEYOND SAID LEGS, A PLURALITY OF INTERMEDIATE ROD MEMBERS ARRANGED IN PLANES BETWEEN THE UPPER ROD MEMBERS AND LOWER ROD MEMBERS AND CONNECTED AT THEIR ENDS TO THEIR RESPECTIVE LEGS OF THE RESPECTIVE LEG FRAMES AND PROVIDING A CRIB-LIKE BOOK RACK, AND A PAIR OF BAR MEMBERS DISPOSED AT RIGHT ANGLES TO AND HAVING APERTURED END PORTIONS FRICTIONALLY SLIDABLE ALONG SAID UPPER ROD MEMBERS. 